In an hourlong interview with The New York Times, he choked up multiple times, noting that he nearly missed his brother’s wedding this summer and spent his birthday holed up in Tesla’s offices as the company raced to meet elusive production targets on a crucial new model.

Asked if the exhaustion was taking a toll on his physical health, Mr. Musk answered: “It’s not been great, actually. I’ve had friends come by who are really concerned.”

He blamed short-sellers — investors who bet that Tesla’s shares will lose value — for much of his stress. He said he was bracing for “at least a few months of extreme torture from the short-sellers, who are desperately pushing a narrative that will possibly result in Tesla’s destruction.”

Referring to the short-sellers, he added: “They’re not dumb guys, but they’re not supersmart. They’re O.K. They’re smartish.”

To help sleep when he is not working, Mr. Musk said he sometimes takes Ambien. “It is often a choice of no sleep or Ambien,” he said.

But this has worried some board members, who have noted that sometimes the drug does not put Mr. Musk to sleep but instead contributes to late-night Twitter sessions, according to a person familiar with the board’s thinking. Some board members are also aware that Mr. Musk has on occasion used recreational drugs, according to people familiar with the matter.

Mr. Musk said he had no plans to relinquish his dual roles as chairman and chief executive.

But, he added, “if you have anyone who can do a better job, please let me know. They can have the job. Is there someone who can do the job better? They can have the reins right now.”

Tesla PUT Plays

I took a flyer on out of the money Tesla PUTs yesterday. I decided to go pretty far out.

September 230s

October 230s

November 230s

December 230s

I put equal monetary weighting on each strike.

I am convinced Musk is guilty of misleading if not fraudulent statements about financing, funding , and takeovers.

Since Tripp posted actual VIN number, he better be telling the truth he is likely in serious legal trouble. But if he is telling the truth, it is Tesla that is in serious trouble.

Regardless, a number of things seem to be coming together so I took a shot. The NYT article today was pure luck.

Timing is exceptionally difficult. But that is always the case with story stocks.

Tesla Weekly Chart

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Why Strike 230?

If any of these stories pan out fast enough, Tesla can easily get hammered back to the $180 area in late 2016. But there is technical support at $240 to clear.

It's been a long time since I bought PUTs on anything. I am prepared to lose this entire bet.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock

Comments

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No. 1-11

ReadyKilowatt

Aug 18, 2018

My guess is that most CEOs are on some sort of mind altering medication. Probably not hallucinogens, but one never can tell...

stillCJ

Editor

Aug 18, 2018

I tried to short TSLA recently but there were no shares to "borrow". I was still able to do it but at a much higher cost. Options are the way to go with the worlds favorite stock for shorting.

gliderdude

Aug 18, 2018

Love the subliminal downtrend line use to mark the day of the NYTimes article in first article image. Very clever, but technically shorts must overcome both a higher high and a higher low. God knows they are workin that shyster mill hard as can be.

gliderdude

Aug 18, 2018

"Some board members are also aware that Mr. Musk has on occasion used recreational drugs, according to people familiar with the matter"

Lots of innuendo consistent with Mish's Tesla "journalism". Whatever, just another in a series of short shiester attacks. If true, even though an anathema to authoritarian Republicans (unless the drug causes uncontrollable fits of blind obedience, and Tourrette's Syndrome like jerky heil Hilter motions), Musk shares one more feature with Steve Jobs. Remembering the bear venom from the media unleashed on Apple during his time makes the comparison even more fitting.

Carl_R

Aug 18, 2018

Good luck with the puts. I think your timing is good, even without the interview. If Musk is concerned about the shorts, he doesn't need to worry about the shorts, all he has to do is produce cars.